Residential Frig / Dry camping

[jheppner]

We are contemplating a new motorhome which comes with a residential frig. Apparently it is also serviced by its own two batteries and a 1000 watt inverter. Has anyone tried dry camping for any length of time with this setup? I'm talking between five days to a week.

[John___Angela]

Good replys here from experienced users. We too need to run our gen an hour in the morning at breakfast prep time and then the same thing at supper. This is more because of loads like toaster, coffee, microwave and TV and computer use. In our case it wouldn't matter if we had a residential or not. We are power hogs. But yes we have extra batteries and a robust solar array. Consider adding extra batteries and solar...at least 300 to 400 watts.

Enjoy.

[Golden_HVAC]

Yes you can dry camp with a residential refrigerator, provided you have solar power, or are willing to listen to your generator run 3-4 hours a day.

I recommend the very quiet solar panels! 400 - 500 watts should work great!

SunElec.com They had a 140 watt 12 volt nominal output solar panel on sale for $229 a few weeks ago. You need something with an aluminum frame, 12 volt output.

The frameless and higher voltage panels are mainly used in homes, where the higher input voltage allows smaller wire size, and it is worth it to string together 4-6 panels, and use the resulting 150 - 750 volt input to the batteryless inverter.

You will also need a PWM controller, mounts, wire, ect.

If you are having the unit built, the manufacture normally charges a arm and leg for all this stuff, they have not learned how to install it very low cost.

Good luck,

Fred.

[horizon36]

Been dry camping in Death Valley for a week now and usually run my generator for about an hour in the AM when I'm using the coffee pot, toaster and microwave. That's usually enough for the day unless I want to watch TV at night, which I have not. I too have the Samsung RF197 fridge, four 6 volt golf car batteries and 425 watts of solar. And yes, my tv, surround and satellite receiver take more power than the fridge.

[RayChez]

We have several members in our RV club that have residential fridges out of the factory. Two batteries are specific for the fridge, but you will have to start the generator if dry camping in the morning for about two hours and then in the evening the same thing. We dry camped at Furnace Creek for the 49er days for four days and that is what they would do.

I have the Norcold 1200 LRIM so I did not have that problem of starting the generator twice a day because my fridge was running on propane. I started my coach for one hour in the morning just to replenish what ever needed on the batteries and at the same time we were making coffee and other uses of the microwave.

But yes you can dry camp with a all electric coach as long as you have a generator or solar panels.

[Executive45]

If you'll be off the grid for 5 days, you'll need some type of aux power regardless of a residential fridge. My TV draws more juice than the residential fridge. I have the same fridge as Smitty. Make sure the aux batteries are 6V golf cart type batteries. They'll last longer and can accept the recharges better. You don't need CCA as they won't be cranking anything....Dennis

[Smitty77]

We dry camp all the time in our coach with Residential Fridge. Ours is a the 18F Samsung, and draws 1.1A, so not a heavy electric user. (With ice maker off.)

Can could get better answers, if you could share the type and size of the two batteries involved? Does this coach also come with a Solar Panel system of any type (Many new coaches have Solar Panel systems installed as an option.)

We have upgraded our battery bank to X's 4 Lifeline AGM L16's for 800AH battery bank. Added a 1200W 48V solar panel system. So depending upon location, time of year, weather and other shading influences, we can go for days and days without needing to run the generator. Or, if in shade or snow covered panels, end up running the generator too:)!

More info on your specifics, would help in more constructive input:)!

Best,
Smitty

[lanerd]

Will it have a generator?